Money should be invested in Australia at a time like this, but not on what Rudd is proposing. Handouts won't have a lasting effect. Consumption will increase momentarily, then things will return to "normal". Investment in schools, while it is a desireable proposal, won't stimulate the economy. Building more public housing for Australia's dole bludgers.......that's not a sound investment when there are much bigger projects that are beckoning.
I think the government should be investing in green energy infrastructure (solar, hydro, wind), water conservation (more desalination, damming, pipelines servicing inland Australia.....Ord stage 2 being a good case in point and underway right now), maybe investing in more prisons to help cope with Australia's ever-increasing prison populations, investments in health through constucting more hospitals. Just to mention a few.
These are vital services that concentrate on the long term.......this is an opportunity for the government to make drastic moves on those areas that need attention for Australia's long term future, providing jobs and investment in the short to medium term, and realised benefits when the recession has well and truely passed.